The Unofficial Blogger of the Chicago Cubs in Canada

Cubs David Ross Homers in Wrigley Field Curtain Call

Chicago Cubs’ David Ross (3) waves to the crowd after hitting a solo home run during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals, Sunday, Sept. 25, 2016, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

As the baseball world mourns the loss of Miami Marlins ace pitcher Jose Fernandez who died tragically yesterday morning, the Chicago Cubs paid tribute to the fallen pitcher with a jersey hanging in the dugout with his name and number. Baseball players build a tight community and come through tragedy as well as triumph together. Cubs fans showed that to veteran David Ross last night in the Cubs 99th victory of the season, 3-1 over the Cardinals and David Ross’s last night playing at Wrigley Field; he hit a home run.

“I was overcome with emotion,” Ross said. “I’m so appreciative to the fans in Chicago for the way they treated me and the way they embraced me and treated me and this team and the way they give me so much credit that I don’t deserve.”

In the seventh inning, Joe Maddon came to the mound and Ross was livid. He thought he was going take Jon Lester out of a game where he was pitching extremely well but Maddon had other plans. The team celebrated Ross’s career. It was a classy move by a classy manager and a classy ball club.

“Honestly, I’m like, ‘Why is he taking Jon out?'” Ross said. “[Maddon] says, ‘I’ve never done this before, but I’m taking you out of the game.’ And then I pulled my mask down because everyone started telling me they loved me, and the emotions started, so I’m trying to get myself together before I walked off the field and then the fans started cheering again.”

It’s not only the on field success of the Chicago Cubs that can be attributed to their amazing season but it’s their friendship on and off the field like their respect for David Ross, a back up catcher playing in the final home game of the regular season and in him hitting a home run and receiving a curtain call, that’s what it’s all about.

“It was just fitting that David would hit a home run, isn’t it?” Maddon said. “I mean it had to have happened tonight.”

But every celebration should end and the Cubs are back to work tonight against the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park. Kyle Hendricks will try to secure the Cubs 100th win of the season and just like last night where it was fitting that Ross homered at Wrigley Field, it would be fitting that the next generation of pitchers seal the deal tonight. The pitcher with the lowest ERA in baseball leading his team to a possible 100th victory, well Hollywood couldn’t tell a story like that. Unless Hendricks was wearing a cape. If there was a sequel to this film, it would happen at the end of October but I don’t want to give away the ending.